Del. Jared Solomon

Maddy summaryHB 805, introduced on January 29, 2025, by Delegates Solomon, Kaufman, and Shetty, would create new criminal prohibitions in Maryland for stealing mail or packages under specific circumstances and for possessing an arrow key in certain situations. The bill amends the Criminal Law Article to add sections 3-905 and 3-905.1, while changing court jurisdiction to allow both District and Circuit Courts to handle these cases. It repeals existing sections of Maryland law related to mail theft and criminal jurisdiction, replacing them with these new provisions. The exact circumstances triggering these prohibitions are not detailed in the provided bill text.

Maddy summaryHB 818 allows courts to award reasonable attorney fees and expenses to winning plaintiffs who sue to correct violations of rights protected by Maryland's Constitution or Declaration of Rights (e.g., cases against state agencies or local governments). It also permits fees to winning defendants only if the plaintiff's case was filed in bad faith or without legal basis. Courts must use factors from Maryland Rule 2-703(F)(3) to determine fees, and the law explicitly overrides standard fee limits under Maryland's Tort Claims Act for these cases. The bill applies only to cases filed after its October 1, 2025, effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 1457 replaces the existing annual surcharge ($100-$125) for zero-emission and plug-in electric vehicles with a new annual highway use fee for owners of alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., propane, natural gas), fuel-efficient vehicles (25+ MPG combined), and plug-in electric vehicles. The fee is calculated as 85% of the estimated motor fuel tax a comparable vehicle would pay annually, based on fuel efficiency and mileage. Owners may opt into a voluntary mileage-based user fee program administered by the Department of Transportation instead of paying the highway use fee. This bill directly affects owners of these specific vehicle types registered in Maryland, shifting the payment mechanism while maintaining revenue for the Transportation Trust Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 607 establishes the PAREA Grant Program to provide financial assistance to minorities residing in historically redlined neighborhoods and underrepresented communities for training to become real estate appraisers. The program aims to close appraisal gaps in these areas, diversify the appraisal profession, and support individuals pursuing real estate appraisal careers. Administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the grants directly target residents in communities historically excluded from the appraisal field. This policy creates a concrete pathway for career development in a specific profession while addressing documented disparities in real estate services.

Maddy summaryHB 941 requires the Governor to include at least $5 million annually in the state budget for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) starting in fiscal year 2027, continuing until a total of $321,181,312 is appropriated. This addresses a historical funding disparity identified by the state legislature, where UMES (as Maryland’s 1890 land-grant institution) received less per-student state funding than UM College Park (the 1862 land-grant institution) from 1987-2020. Funds must be supplemental to existing appropriations and can be used for infrastructure, faculty, scholarships, or other institutional needs identified by UMES. The bill aims to fully remedy the $321 million shortfall over time through mandatory annual appropriations.

Maddy summaryHB 1492 modifies the required annual funding for Maryland's Growing Family Child Care Opportunities Program. It mandates that the Governor include $450,000 in the budget for fiscal years 2023, 2024, and 2026, and $900,000 for fiscal years 2027 and 2028. This funding supports grants to help family child care providers start or expand operations through local programs administered by counties and child care resource centers. The bill specifically adjusts these annual appropriation amounts without changing the program's core purpose of assisting family child care providers in registered homes.

Maddy summaryHB 688 requires Maryland public high school students to complete and submit either the federal FAFSA or Maryland's MSFAA financial aid application as a graduation requirement starting in the 2026-2027 school year. It directly affects all public high school students in Maryland, with exceptions allowing students to decline (via a signed form) or for counties to grant waivers based on principal attestation or extenuating circumstances. The bill mandates annual reporting by county boards to state education committees on submission rates, declines, and waivers. It amends Maryland's education code to implement these requirements and includes provisions for student support in completing the forms. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1324 allows Maryland hospitals to sell unpaid patient medical debt to nonprofit organizations *only* if the nonprofit cancels the debt. This directly affects hospitals (requiring them to amend financial policies) and patients with outstanding medical bills who may have their debt forgiven through this process. Key provisions mandate hospitals to dismiss all pending legal actions for sold debt and prohibit any further collection efforts - including on judgments - on debt sold to qualifying nonprofits. The bill also updates hospital reporting requirements to include demographic data on debt collection practices, but its core change centers on enabling debt cancellation via nonprofit partnerships.

Maddy summaryHB 464 requires Maryland local school systems to provide parents of children with disabilities with written information about secondary transition services during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. Specifically, it mandates this information be given at least once yearly and beginning when a student turns 14 years old. The bill also requires that materials be provided in the parent's native language if English is not their primary language. This applies directly to parents of students with IEPs in Maryland public schools, ensuring they receive clear, accessible planning resources for their child's post-secondary goals. The law amends existing Maryland education code sections to formalize these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1006, the "Protecting Sensitive Locations Act," requires Maryland's Attorney General to create guidelines limiting immigration enforcement at specific sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, places of worship, childcare centers, and domestic violence shelters. State agencies operating at these locations must either adopt policies aligned with the guidelines or submit written justification and existing policies if they choose not to comply. The bill directly affects all Maryland state agencies managing facilities listed in the law, such as public schools, community health centers, and emergency shelters. Its key mechanism is mandating agency adherence to the guidelines or transparent documentation of non-compliance. The law aims to reduce immigration enforcement disruptions at places where vulnerable populations seek essential services.